Chapter 3

I tried to explain, but Damon cut me off, furious.

"Enough. We're coming back up. Stop making a scene."

Half an hour later Damon came back to the room.

Behind him was a whole line of healers and apprentices.

"Examine her. See if she's really in pain or faking it."

His eyes swept across them. "If she's actually in distress, this infirmary is finished."

The female healer shot a panicked glance at Seraphine, then composed herself.

"She's already a mistress trying to climb in on a pup. Of course she has to play up the pain to make you pity her."

"We see this kind all the time."

The apprentices backed her up. "That's right. Her intake check showed she was in perfect condition."

"There's no way it should hurt this badly. She's faking."

The female healer volunteered herself to check my birthing passage.

Terror washed through me. I shook my head wildly, looking at Damon for help.

"No—I want a different healer."

"Please—can you get me a different healer."

Damon's lips pressed tight. His eyes were complicated.

"Then we'll switch—"

Right then, Seraphine tugged on his arm, playing sweet.

"Damon, I picked this healer myself. She's the best birth-healer in Crescent City. Wolves beg for her and can't get her."

"You don't believe her? You can't not believe me."

I wanted to say more, but when I looked up I met Damon's cold eyes.

His voice left no room. "Elara, my patience with you has a limit."

"Shut up. Be a good female and let her examine you."

My heart dropped straight through the floor.

Why. Why did Damon suddenly look like a different male.

He believed everyone but me.

They stripped me bare from the waist down. Hands pinned my legs apart.

Cold fingers stinking of antiseptic pushed between my thighs again.

I screamed. My voice came out in a broken, humiliating plea.

"It hurts—it hurts so much! Damon, I want a shift-assisted delivery! Cut him out of me!"

"Please, let me have it."

I was incoherent with pain.

Damon's eyes were cold, like he was looking at a stranger.

"Elara, is this only because I'm here? When I'm not around, you manage fine."

He stepped back and spoke calmly to the healer.

"Can she have a shift-assisted delivery right now?"

"No. Conditions aren't met." Her words dropped me into ice.

Her hand came out from between my legs.

Then, like she was venting something, she pinched the flesh of my thigh hard.

"Alpha Hale, in my experience, Miss Elara's issue is psychological."

"Her birthing passage isn't fully open yet. She can't deliver."

"But she's emotionally unstable. We recommend physical restraints, or her distress will harm the pup."

I shook my head like I was possessed, begging Damon with my eyes not to allow it.

But he ignored me.

He just walked over and gently wiped the sweat from my forehead.

"Behave. Listen to the healer."

"I know you've worked hard. When the pup is out, I'll reward you properly."

Then he turned and nodded at the healer.

"Do it your way."

Fear and pain and dread broke me open. I sobbed out loud.

Tears poured down. The pain inside my belly was so deep I couldn't breathe.

And right then—

The healer looped silver-threaded restraint bands across my chest and strapped me to the bed.

My belly was squeezed tight inside the bands.

A mother's instinct screamed at me. This is wrong. This will kill him.

I grabbed Damon's hand before he could pull away.

I threw my pride away completely.

"Please. This is your pup. You said you were looking forward to his birth more than anything."

"If this keeps going, the pup will die."

"I'll behave. Mistress, second female, whatever you want. Just save me and my pup."

Damon had never seen me like this.

In his mind, I was always proud. Always self-possessed.

Damon wavered. He couldn't make the call.

Seraphine came closer, pretending concern. She bent down by my ear and whispered like a demon.

"Sister, does it hurt? Good. It's supposed to."

"You were so proud. You didn't want to be the mistress. So why are you crawling now?"

I laughed, hopeless, tears hitting the pillow.

So that was it.

I understood now. Nothing I said mattered.

Seraphine was never going to let me and the pup leave this room alive.

Something in me snapped.

I yanked against the strap until my hand was free.

I grabbed the silver-edged letter knife off the table and pressed it to my own throat.

"No one moves. Let me go!"

"Let me leave this infirmary!"

Damon was so scared his voice cracked. "Elara, you've lost it. Put the knife down!"

Then he whirled on the healers. "Are you all deaf?"

"Get those restraints off her! Now!"

The female healer started to argue. Damon's hand came around and cracked her across the face. She went down.

"Weren't you the one who said it would calm her? It's worse!"

Several healers rushed forward and fumbled the restraints open.

I didn't even stop for shoes. I ran like something was hunting me, trying to get out of that killing room.

Seraphine tried to block me. I shoved her down.

Damon's voice came roaring behind me.

"Elara, don't push it just because I care about you!"

"You're about to whelp! You're a mother! Stop being jealous!"